Chapter 5: Object Interaction

The Collaboration Diagram Toolbar

The Collaboration diagram toolbar is very similar to the Sequence diagram toolbar. There are a few options available here that aren't available in a Sequence diagram, such as an object link and data flows. The following sections describe how to use each of these toolbar buttons to add items to the diagram. Table 5.2 shows the toolbar buttons available on the Collaboration diagram toolbar.

Table 5.2: Icons in the Collaboration Diagram Toolbar

Icon	Button	Purpose
	Selects or Deselects an Item	Returns the cursor to an arrow to select an item.
	Text Box	Adds a text box to the diagram.
	Note	Adds a note to the diagram.
	Anchor Note to Item	Connects a note to an item on the diagram.
	Object	Adds a new object to the diagram.
	Class Instance	Adds a new class instance to the diagram.
	Object Link	Creates a path for communication between two objects.
	Link to Self	Shows that an object can call its own operations.
	Link Message	Adds a message between two objects or from an object to itself.
	Reverse Link Message	Adds a message in the opposite direction between two objects or
		from an object to itself.
	Data Token	Shows information flow between two objects.
	Reverse Data Token	Shows information flow in the opposite direction between two
		objects.

Working with Actors on an Interaction Diagram

Most Sequence and Collaboration diagrams have an actor object. The actor object is the external stimulus that tells the system to run some functionality. The actor objects for the Interaction diagram will include the actors that interact with the use case on the Use Case diagram.

To create an actor object on an Interaction diagram:

1.

Open the Interaction diagram.

2.

Select the actor in the browser.

3.

Drag the actor from the browser to the open diagram.

To remove an actor object from an Interaction diagram:

1.

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